1. Which of the possible venues do you think would best suit this play? Why do you believe the dramatic action would be best served in this venue?
I feel the best venue for this play would be the proscenium stage. This is so because it would help us focus on the characters of the play. Everyone will be able to see everything. Whether it is Little Bit or Uncle Peck in the car or everyone at the table, it would be best done this way. They could enhance the dramatic action of the play by putting everyone closer if needed. Even taking up the entire stage might be effective. It really depends on the intention. Personally, I also feel that it would be a relatively better choice when compared to other venues as well.
2. What are some of the design challenges posed by the play?
I feel the biggest design challenge of the play would be the car. The car is a crucial part to the play, so we would want to make it as realistic as possible. The challenge would be to get one that looks believable and also I feel the way it is positioned to the audience is very important as well. How we view Uncle Peck and Little Bit is very important to how the relationship and their characters are perceived. It might be even a good idea to show them from inside of the car rather than the outside. This is very important I feel because we are more concerned on what happens in the car versus what actually takes place outside. Designing the high school scenes might be a challenge as well. We want to make it as realistic as possible.
3. Choose the various chorus characters and discuss how you see them dressed. In what ways do you think the costumes you describe would help articulate their purpose in this play?
Personally, when dealing with the play overall, a more modern adaptation would be more appropriate. Sexual abuse is a very serious issue we deal with today, so the audience will be able to relate more. Therefore, this would affect the way the characters are dressed. For the Male chorus, so it would depend. I feel the younger males would be dressed more casually, while the older men would be dressed in a more business casual way. The older men would wear button down shirts, t-shirts, khakis, and jeans. I feel that the men would be able to dress in a more flexible and diverse way, which could signify the misogynistic theme of the play. They are shown to be the ones who can do whatever they want, and their clothing can reflect it. The women on the other hand are often blamed for being abused, so dressing them in a less provocative and more homogeneous way to show that they have no choice and are controlled by the men. Sure this may be more old fashioned, and not necessarily reflective of the entire time period for women, but based on the circumstances of the play I feel this would be appropriate. Also, there are still several areas today, where women are dressed in a more covered manner. The teenage chorus I feel should be dressed as how teenagers are usually dressed. In this case, since we are in modern times, jeans, hoodies, and leggings would all be appropriate forms of clothing for the teenage chorus.
4. Provide some ideas about the use of light in the play?
I feel when showing the car scenes, the lighting should be dark. This would signify the darker and more serious/horrific atmosphere when Lil Bit gets abused by Uncle Peck. Not so dark that we can’t see them of course, but the lighting should be done as if the car is badly lit. This will symbolize the seriousness of the atmosphere as well. Scenes such as the dinner table should have normal or even bright lighting. I feel this is so because while yes much abuse is happening in the family, it is in a much more subtle way. The final scene should have brighter than average lighting as Lil Bit is finally free and ready to move on with her life.
5. Suggest music and sound effects that could help accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play.
In the car, the music should be very serious or even in some ways horrific signifying the perversion that is taking place. Not necessarily a song, but more suspenseful music would be the best choice. I personally feel no other music should really play however, due to the very uncomfortable and dark tone of the play. The end should definitely have more positive background music, however, as she is finally free from her Uncle and past.
I feel the best venue for this play would be the proscenium stage. This is so because it would help us focus on the characters of the play. Everyone will be able to see everything. Whether it is Little Bit or Uncle Peck in the car or everyone at the table, it would be best done this way. They could enhance the dramatic action of the play by putting everyone closer if needed. Even taking up the entire stage might be effective. It really depends on the intention. Personally, I also feel that it would be a relatively better choice when compared to other venues as well.
2. What are some of the design challenges posed by the play?
I feel the biggest design challenge of the play would be the car. The car is a crucial part to the play, so we would want to make it as realistic as possible. The challenge would be to get one that looks believable and also I feel the way it is positioned to the audience is very important as well. How we view Uncle Peck and Little Bit is very important to how the relationship and their characters are perceived. It might be even a good idea to show them from inside of the car rather than the outside. This is very important I feel because we are more concerned on what happens in the car versus what actually takes place outside. Designing the high school scenes might be a challenge as well. We want to make it as realistic as possible.
3. Choose the various chorus characters and discuss how you see them dressed. In what ways do you think the costumes you describe would help articulate their purpose in this play?
Personally, when dealing with the play overall, a more modern adaptation would be more appropriate. Sexual abuse is a very serious issue we deal with today, so the audience will be able to relate more. Therefore, this would affect the way the characters are dressed. For the Male chorus, so it would depend. I feel the younger males would be dressed more casually, while the older men would be dressed in a more business casual way. The older men would wear button down shirts, t-shirts, khakis, and jeans. I feel that the men would be able to dress in a more flexible and diverse way, which could signify the misogynistic theme of the play. They are shown to be the ones who can do whatever they want, and their clothing can reflect it. The women on the other hand are often blamed for being abused, so dressing them in a less provocative and more homogeneous way to show that they have no choice and are controlled by the men. Sure this may be more old fashioned, and not necessarily reflective of the entire time period for women, but based on the circumstances of the play I feel this would be appropriate. Also, there are still several areas today, where women are dressed in a more covered manner. The teenage chorus I feel should be dressed as how teenagers are usually dressed. In this case, since we are in modern times, jeans, hoodies, and leggings would all be appropriate forms of clothing for the teenage chorus.
4. Provide some ideas about the use of light in the play?
I feel when showing the car scenes, the lighting should be dark. This would signify the darker and more serious/horrific atmosphere when Lil Bit gets abused by Uncle Peck. Not so dark that we can’t see them of course, but the lighting should be done as if the car is badly lit. This will symbolize the seriousness of the atmosphere as well. Scenes such as the dinner table should have normal or even bright lighting. I feel this is so because while yes much abuse is happening in the family, it is in a much more subtle way. The final scene should have brighter than average lighting as Lil Bit is finally free and ready to move on with her life.
5. Suggest music and sound effects that could help accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play.
In the car, the music should be very serious or even in some ways horrific signifying the perversion that is taking place. Not necessarily a song, but more suspenseful music would be the best choice. I personally feel no other music should really play however, due to the very uncomfortable and dark tone of the play. The end should definitely have more positive background music, however, as she is finally free from her Uncle and past.